15 Examples of Silence

John Spacey, November 02, 2020

Silence is a lack of sound or communication. This can be viewed as a type of negative space that provides ordering of sounds. Without silence sound would be unintelligible, droning and unappealing. The following are common types of silence.

Danger

In nature, predators use silence to sneak up on prey. Prey use silence to try to detect predators. This may help to explain why people are often uncomfortable with silence as it may invoke instincts related to danger.

Turn-Taking

In communication, silence is commonly used to prompt a response from the other side. This can apply to both verbal communication and text-based communication such as emails.

Signaling Displeasure

Silence is often used to communicate a negative emotion such as disappointment or anger. This may be extended for a long period of time as a form of admonishment. In English, this is known by the idiomatic expression "silent treatment."

Active Silence

Active silence is the strategic use of silence in communication. For example, a long pause designed to create tension in the midst of telling a story. Active silence is also used as a tool of debate and negotiation to prompt the other side into talking when it's not to their advantage to do so.

Aesthetic Silence

The use of silence in a creative work such as music or a film. This is analogous to the negative space of physical works. Silence can create crushingly tense emotions in a work.

Complicit Silence

Failing to express information can create moral failings such as failing to voice opposition to something that is wrong where you are in some position to stop it.

Spiral of Silence

A spiral of silence is groupthink that is caused by complicit silence. For example, a university that establishes a policy that most board members view as wrong but are afraid to speak up for fear of being admonished or socially isolated.

Right to Silence

The right to refuse to answer questions to avoid self-incrimination.

Awkward Silence

A tendency for an unintended pause in a conversation to feel socially awkward. Particularly, where you don't know somebody very well and you can't think of anything to say.

Comfortable Silence

The observation that people who have a close relationship no longer feel compelled to fill every moment together with sound.

Strong Silent Type

As a character trait, a tendency to talk only when you have something interesting to say can earn you respect. This character trait is traditionally known as a strong silent type. The strong silent type shouldn't be confused with silence that stems from shyness or social awkwardness. The term implies a commanding personal presence.

Noble Silence

Noble silence is the idea that silence can be a virtue. This can be a cultural thing whereby people who are quiet are assumed to be deep, introspective or have other positive characteristics in a particular cultural context.

Ritual Silence

The use of silence in rituals and ceremonies. For example, a moment of silence as a means of mourning or a ceremony that is performed in silence.

Reflection

Silence is considered important to deep thought, reflection and concentration. Spending time in a state of quiet reflection is a valuable element of the human experience.

Peace

At the emotional level, silence can be perceived as peaceful and calming.

Overview: Silence
Type	Nonverbal Communication
Definition	A lack of sound or communication.
Related Concepts	Nonverbal Communication » Negative Space » Active Silence » Groupthink » Character Trait » Personal Presence »